REFERENCE COPY

Camberwell Green Extra information

The design summary document is available for you to take home. If you require some extra information, this document expands on some of the issues and design features that are mentioned in the summary. Alternatively if you have any questions please ask a council officer. Contact details are provided at the end of this document.

Reducing antisocial behaviour Antisocial behaviour (ASB) particularly involving alcohol consumption and drug use was highlighted as the biggest problem at the Green. “Community Wardens patrol Green twice per day. It is not possible to increase patrols or have Wardens stationery in the park all day because there are only 49 uniformed Wardens across the entire borough and they are required to visit many areas. The number of staff cannot be increased due to budget restrictions. And although Wardens would be a deterrent, a full time presence is likely to simply move the problem to another area of Camberwell, which is not what officers want to do. Also this would not be entirely effective as much of the ASB occurs outside working hours. Prevention is much better than cure, and we need to look at ways of solving the problem rather than temporarily moving offenders on, as they are likely to return or cause problems nearby. Tackling ASB is challenging and officers have been liaising with the Community Safety Department to see how the design could assist in reducing the problem. They have advised that ASB normally occurs in areas that feel closed off or hidden away. The current layout of the Green feels like this due to the fact it is below the level of the surrounding area and enclosed by high railings. Removal of the railings and bringing the level up to match the surrounding area could help reduce ASB. Shrubs taller than waist-height attract ASB by shielding offenders while urinating or using drugs.” Extract from the 2012 Consultation Report. Statistics show that incidences of antisocial behaviour at the Green have reduced. In 2011-12 (one year from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012) at the Green there were 180 incidents reported which were recorded by the Community Wardens, 73% of which would be classified as ASB. 99 were “confiscation of alcohol from person in designated area causing ASB”, 17 were drug-related and 16 were other types of ASB (such as groups gathering and causing noise and intimidation). So far in 2012-13 there have only been 41 recorded incidents, 68% of which would be classified as ASB. 22 were “confiscation of alcohol from person in designated area causing ASB”, 3 were other types of ASB (such as groups gathering and causing noise and intimidation) and there have been no reported drug related offences. Statistics for January to March 2013 are incomplete however if incidents continue at a similar rate, projected figures predict that there will have been a total of 52 incidents by the end of March 2013 and that 36 of these would have been incidents of ASB, which is a significant decrease from the previous year. There were also reports of “rough sleeping and/or begging and/or street drinking” so these incidents may have included drinking alcohol. Although undesirable at the Green, rough sleepers are not normally counted as ASB unless the perpetrators are causing harassment, for example by persistent and/or aggressive begging. In 2011-12 a total of 19 rough sleepers were reported and

Go online to complete your feedback and add comments www..gov.uk/camberwellregen this has reduced to 6 so far in 2012-13 which could go up to 8 if a similar rate continues until the end of March.

Public toilet The public toilet block was installed in it’s current position in 2007. It is on a 15 year management contract with the company that installed it, who carry out cleaning and maintenance. The contract cannot be terminated therefore if we remove it completely we would have to pay for the remaining nine years, which is not economically viable. However it is an unattractive landmark for the centre of Camberwell, it blocks vision for drivers at this busy junction and nearly a third of respondents to the consultation thought it should be removed. Slightly more people expressed that they think the toilet is a useful facility therefore we propose to relocate it. The toilet block is designed in a way that means it can be relocated without difficulty, and this is a service that the company that we hold the contract with can provide. “Slightly more people were in favour of keeping the toilet, but still 31% thought it should be removed. Some respondents who stated that it was a useful facility asked for it to be made 24 hours and free to use, which shows that although they think it is useful they have never used it themselves because it is already 24 hours and free. Reports were made of people using the toilet to take drugs. The provision of a toilet has not stopped people urinating in the park as this is still observed. Officers believe relocation is the best way forward, to a place within walking distance and well signposted. The toilet is well used, with over 1,000 uses per month and many of the users are bus drivers as it was installed as a facility for drivers using the bus stand on the western side of the Green. Streetscape improvements may relocate the bus stand and therefore it makes sense to relocate the toilet as well. It is currently an unattractive landmark to the Green and the council’s Conservation Team are also in favour of it’s relocation.” Extract from the Camberwell Green 2012 Consultation Report. A new location for the toilet has not yet been chosen and we are open to suggestions. The new location will have to be agreed with the landowner. The Streetscape Team will be involved in choosing the location, and it will be well signposted from the previous location.

Trees Trees provide beautiful sculptural elements, a sense of timelessness and environmental benefits to the Green and town centre. The large mature trees will be retained and some diseased trees will need to be removed, as they would become dangerous in the future. Now is a good time to replace them with species which will thrive in an urban environment and are relatively resistant to disease. Some healthy trees will need to be carefully dug up and relocated to better fit in with the new design. All designs seek to increase the number and species diversity of trees in the park. Avenue planting along paths and boundaries will strengthen the look and feel of the Green, and leave the grass spaces open without obstacle.

Recycling “bring” site

We are liaising with the council’s waste contractor to find a new location for the recycling “bring” site which consists of nine large recycling bins on the northern footway adjacent to the Green. The northern footway is very wide which is unnecessary as not many pedestrians use it. Reducing the width of the footway is a good way of adding more green space to the Green. There are concerns that the “bring” site has been a longstanding service to the community and that moving it would be inconvenient for local residents. However there are 7 more recycling sites within 300m of the Green (see Appendix 1 – Recycling sites close to Camberwell Green), which is an easy 5 minute walk for most people. Increasing capacity at these sites and/or creating a new site should mean there are still adequate facilities for the local community. We are unsure when the “bring” site was installed but it was thought to be prior to the designation of the Camberwell Conservation Area in 1981. If this or a similar amenity site was proposed in such a visible location inside the Conservation Area today, it would not be permitted y the Planning Department. The Conservation Area Appraisal document is available to read at this event. Point 5.2.3 in the document states: “Keeping utility areas behind the street frontage, accessed from the rear or through narrow passages under and between buildings – this includes car parking, garaging, service areas and private amenity space”

There is a Nursing Home located opposite the Green, across the road on it’s northern boundary. In the warmer months residents sit outside in a front garden area and currently their view is of 9 large bins. This is a great opportunity to improve their view. A new location has not yet been decided and suggestions are welcomed.

CoolTan Arts bench This sculptural bench was installed at the north- eastern corner of the Green in May 2012. It sits along the CoolTan Arts’ Largactyl Shuffle Walk which runs from the Maudsley Hospital to the and promotes the history of Southwark and mental health issues. We want to open up the north-eastern entrance to provide an uninterrupted route to, and view of the new library. This is the most heavily used entrance and the number of pedestrians will increase once the new library is open. Therefore the bench will need to be moved however it will still be located on the route of the Largactyl Shuffle. Suggestions for a new location are welcomed. Sidney Bates memorial bench We expect to have to relocate the Sidney Bates V. C. memorial bench, which is an attractive wooden and cast iron bench that surrounds a tree. It was installed in 2011 and is currently located near the western entrance to the Green. The tree which it surrounds is to be carefully dug up and moved to a more appropriate location as it blocks an important intersection where paths meet. Therefore the bench must be moved too. We would like to locate the bench around a tree which will not grow as big when it matures, because the tree it currently surrounds will eventually outgrow it and could damage the bench. An appropriate location would be with the other war memorials near the air raid shelter bombing site, towards the northeast of the Green, however we are open to suggestions. The bench is designed in such a way that it is easy to dismantle and put back together in a new location.

Railings The park is entirely enclosed by railings and at the southern end it’s level is below that of the surrounding area. This decreases visibility of the Green, and from the busy shopping street (Camberwell Church Street) it is not very noticeable or accessible.

“Tackling ASB is challenging and officers have been liaising with the Community Safety Department to see how the design could assist in reducing the problem. They have advised that antisocial drinking and drug use normally occurs in areas that feel closed off or hidden away. The current layout of the Green feels like this due to the fact it is below the level of the surrounding area and enclosed by high railings. Removal of the railings and bringing the level up to match the surrounding area could help reduce ASB. Shrubs taller than waist-height attract ASB by shielding offenders while urinating or using drugs.” Extract from the Camberwell Green 2012 Consultation Report. Officers are concerned that people will feel less safe without railings surrounding the Green. The area will be made safer due to the introduction of a 20mph speed limit and widening of the footway along both boundaries with the main roads (southern and western), which are proposed by the Streetscape project. Removing the railings will also make the park less attractive to dog owners who cannot control their dogs and as a result should reduce incidences of dog fouling. The play area will still be fenced to prevent dogs getting in.

Lighting We propose to install LED lighting which will mean lower electricity consumption and long term cost savings as well as the associated environmental benefit of lower carbon emissions. The new lights will provide brighter, whiter light along the pathways of the Green. They will be better for wildlife as the light is more directional and therefore there is less light pollution. Installation of new lighting is dependent on there being sufficient budget available. Integrate art and education Camberwell is a vibrant area and we want to tell the story of Camberwell Green through imagery¸ art and words embedded in the fabric of the park; it’s seating, walls, planting and paving. It would be great to get some local artists and schools involved, to create real ownership of the park. Further consultation will be required and ideas are welcomed.

Innovation in design Design 3 includes innovative design which will give the park a contemporary feel. In the south- western corner the level of the grass is below the level of the footway, and steps leading down also act as seating – see cross section drawing below for an idea of how this would work. A similar design is used at Potters Fields park which is located near (see Appendix 2 – Photographs of Potters Fields park) This would be possible due to the widening of the footway, proposed by the Streetscape project which intends to take from the road. The green space will not be reduced.

What happens next? The results of this consultation will be analysed in a similar way to the 2012 consultation, and we will be looking for common themes in people’s comments. The feedback will be passed on to the Designer, who will then create one design for the park. The final design will be more detailed and is likely to include elements from all three design options. We it will be ready for you to see in May or June this year. The design will be submitted for planning permission, because the Green is located in a Conservation Area. This is likely to take two or three months but in the meantime we will be busy getting an estimate for the cost of construction, and sending out applications for additional funding if it is required. Once planning permission has been granted and we have found enough funding, we will find a company to carry out the build and get to work. If we’re lucky, this could start in January 2014. We aim to minimised disruption to the public, and will ensure the build is completed as quickly as possible. Estimated completion is currently April 2014 however there are many factors which could affect this date.

Document Information Version: 2.2 Last edited: 25 January 2013 Author: Pippa Krishnan, Service Development Officer, Southwark council Contact: [email protected] or 020 7525 5133 Project website: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/camberwellgreen Appendix 1

Appendix 2 - Photographs of Potters Fields park